Bowlen picked Josh McDaniels, who had been offensive coordinator for the record-setting New England Patriots. But four other candidates interviewed by the Broncos have become head coaches elsewhere: Steve Spagnuolo (Rams), Raheem Morris (Bucs), Jason Garrett (Cowboys), Leslie Frazier (Vikings).

With Garrett and Frazier getting top jobs this month, a case can be made the Broncos’ coaching search committee laid the ground work for 15 percent of the league.

The only two candidates who interviewed for the Broncos’ top job who don’t yet have head jobs elsewhere are Rick Dennison, who was on Shanahan’s staff the previous 14 years and is now the Houston Texans’ offensive coordinator, and Miami secondary/assistant head coach Todd Bowles, who still holds that position.

Right now, it looks like Morris would have been a great choice. Can we have a do-over?

Coachbriang

Any of those chioces would have been better than what we’ve got now.

august589

Right now, it looks like Morris would have been a great choice. Can we have a do-over?

Coachbriang

Any of those chioces would have been better than what we’ve got now.

Bensonbertjr

so here is my question? How long are we going to wate ,before josh McDaniels gets fired

Bensonbertjr

so here is my question? How long are we going to wate ,before josh McDaniels gets fired

G00N3r7883

Any one of those 4 would have been a better choice (my personal choice was Spagnuolo, Frazier 2nd) than McD. Do the front office deserve credit for identifying these guys, or do they deserve more ridicule for overlooking them?

G00N3r7883

Any one of those 4 would have been a better choice (my personal choice was Spagnuolo, Frazier 2nd) than McD. Do the front office deserve credit for identifying these guys, or do they deserve more ridicule for overlooking them?

Jm Townsend

Get rid of McD. He is too stuck on himself. He doesn’t know as much as he thinks he does.

Jm Townsend

Get rid of McD. He is too stuck on himself. He doesn’t know as much as he thinks he does.

danimal7

Wow! I always wondered how Detroit Lions fans felt! We are the worst team in the NFL. Orotn is mediocre. Great stats do not matter unless you are winning games. He can’t carry a team on his back. Cutler has more wins than Orton and he’s a loser! Knowshon can run but the running game is always put to rest early. Offensive line is also mediocre besides Clady. Dawkins is washed up I mean put someone in who can cover and tackle! Champ doesn’t care anymore! D.J. can’t shed a block to make a tackle unless there’s a beer on the running back’s helmet! Goodman sucks and should be put on IR. Vickerson(let me rip your helmet off) sucks. Bannan is ok.Jamal Williams is a waste of money. I like Joe Mays. This franchise is screwed for at least 5 years. These past few years have been harder than losing the Super Bowls in the 80’s. This team sucks. Next time I even think about buying Broncos merchandise, I’ll wipe something with my money because the uniform should be brown anyways! McDaniels is an idiot! Losermania is sweeping through the Mile High city. Thanks for caring about the fans Mr. Bowlen! Maybe you should think about selling the team.

danimal7

Wow! I always wondered how Detroit Lions fans felt! We are the worst team in the NFL. Orotn is mediocre. Great stats do not matter unless you are winning games. He can’t carry a team on his back. Cutler has more wins than Orton and he’s a loser! Knowshon can run but the running game is always put to rest early. Offensive line is also mediocre besides Clady. Dawkins is washed up I mean put someone in who can cover and tackle! Champ doesn’t care anymore! D.J. can’t shed a block to make a tackle unless there’s a beer on the running back’s helmet! Goodman sucks and should be put on IR. Vickerson(let me rip your helmet off) sucks. Bannan is ok.Jamal Williams is a waste of money. I like Joe Mays. This franchise is screwed for at least 5 years. These past few years have been harder than losing the Super Bowls in the 80’s. This team sucks. Next time I even think about buying Broncos merchandise, I’ll wipe something with my money because the uniform should be brown anyways! McDaniels is an idiot! Losermania is sweeping through the Mile High city. Thanks for caring about the fans Mr. Bowlen! Maybe you should think about selling the team.

http://pulse.yahoo.com/_3AUFE6DFOCUY4DUNOEFZ6DBUA4 ChrisL

Not to mention, that Rex Ryan was all but begging for work at the time. He was on some sort of What the Heck Do I Have to Do to Get a Head Coaching Job world tour.

http://pulse.yahoo.com/_3AUFE6DFOCUY4DUNOEFZ6DBUA4 ChrisL

Not to mention, that Rex Ryan was all but begging for work at the time. He was on some sort of What the Heck Do I Have to Do to Get a Head Coaching Job world tour.

http://pulse.yahoo.com/_F46O62PV5YCJTFIWVJ7CYZHUBE les

after 40 years of loveing broncos football it hard to watch bad plays pat b not a good decision on mc d

http://pulse.yahoo.com/_F46O62PV5YCJTFIWVJ7CYZHUBE les

after 40 years of loveing broncos football it hard to watch bad plays pat b not a good decision on mc d

Ya

$18,000.00 IN CLUB SEATS AIN’T HAPPENING FOR THIS FAN IN 2001. I’m opting out!!!

Ya

$18,000.00 IN CLUB SEATS AIN’T HAPPENING FOR THIS FAN IN 2001. I’m opting out!!!

J_45

Any other head coach with this poor of a record on any other team in the NFL would’ve been looking for another job by now. But not mini-Belachek? Why is that? Are we still paying the rest of Shanahan’s contract? Or maybe tough economic times call for hiring a “bargain basement” head coach. All of Mc daniels’ trades and acquisitions are not going to set the team up for success in the long run. Two words: Lawrence Maroney; What was the point of acquiring him? We can’t afford to play hospice to the careers of former Patriots. We are never going to be the Patriots and Mcdaniels has to come to that realization.

At this point in the season, we have to realize that nothing, not even Tebow, is going to save the Broncos. From this point forward, we should begin to taking the necessary steps that place the team in the hands of a headcoach who thinks about the future and isn’t obsessed with living in the past.

J_45

Any other head coach with this poor of a record on any other team in the NFL would’ve been looking for another job by now. But not mini-Belachek? Why is that? Are we still paying the rest of Shanahan’s contract? Or maybe tough economic times call for hiring a “bargain basement” head coach. All of Mc daniels’ trades and acquisitions are not going to set the team up for success in the long run. Two words: Lawrence Maroney; What was the point of acquiring him? We can’t afford to play hospice to the careers of former Patriots. We are never going to be the Patriots and Mcdaniels has to come to that realization.

At this point in the season, we have to realize that nothing, not even Tebow, is going to save the Broncos. From this point forward, we should begin to taking the necessary steps that place the team in the hands of a headcoach who thinks about the future and isn’t obsessed with living in the past.

Wingnug

McDaniels is a math nerd. You know, the kid who gets beat up for his lunch money? Now he’s a head coach in the NFL. How’d that happen?

Wingnug

McDaniels is a math nerd. You know, the kid who gets beat up for his lunch money? Now he’s a head coach in the NFL. How’d that happen?

Mike Klis has been with The Denver Post since 1998, after working 13 years with the Colorado Springs Gazette Telegraph. Major League Baseball was Klis' initial passion. He started covering the Colorado Rockies after Coors Field was approved for construction in August 1990.

Nicki Jhabvala is the Sports Digital News Editor for The Denver Post. Before arriving in Denver, she spent five years at Sports Illustrated working primarily as its online NBA editor, and she was most recently the overnight home page editor at the New York Times. She has reported regularly on the Broncos since joining the staff.

A published author and award-winning journalist, Benjamin Hochman is a sports columnist for The Denver Post. He previously worked on the staff of the New Orleans Times-Picayune, winners of two Pulitzer Prizes for their Hurricane Katrina coverage.